California Law Schools: Complete List by City, Market & School Type

A market-first directory of California law schools by Bay Area, Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Diego and other regions, with public/private and career-fit context.

This page is a California law-school directory organized by market, not a “best schools” ranking. Use the separate Best Law Schools in California guide for comparative ranking intent.

Bay Area law schools

Stanford
UC Berkeley
UC Law San Francisco
Santa Clara
University of San Francisco

Los Angeles law schools

UCLA
USC
Loyola Los Angeles
Southwestern
Pepperdine (Malibu/LA market)

Orange County and Inland Southern California

UC Irvine
Chapman

San Diego law schools

University of San Diego
California Western
Thomas Jefferson

Sacramento / Northern California

UC Davis
McGeorge

How to use this directory

Choose the market first, then compare employment reach, net cost, bar outcomes and practice-area fit. California is not one legal market: LA, the Bay Area, Sacramento and San Diego recruit differently.

Written by Ali Unar, Founder, Lovare Institut. Updated September 20, 2026.

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